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If soil temps are best at 40 degrees to plant taters, but air temperatures are mid 50's daytime but 20's at night -- could it be safe to plant potatoes? I'm concerned not knowing how fast Mels' Mix can heat up or cool off in a twenty-four hour period. I doubt the extension service would be of much help re: Mels Mix either. For starters today I think I'll take soil temps with the compost thermometer morning and late day... What do you think?

Yes Pepper -- I see your potato pics from page 3. Heartbreaking to me, honestly have no idea how it will affect your potatoes.. Last year I planted April 19 with very good results but it was a weird warm year as we all know. Outside I go to take a soil temp, hoping for 45 degrees.....

southern gardener -- I don't have a thread started with the 18 day compost effort. It can be googled or youtubed to see other peoples efforts. Maybe I'll take pictures and share the experience if all goes well. This will be my first time trying it out.

Pepper - Did your potatoes fully recover???Planted mine April 6th. Been covering the sprouts but soon expecting three nights in the hi and lo thirties. Your input would be appreciated! Maybe cover mine more deeply with Mel's Mix and hope....

Yes Lm they recovered nicely. Even the 'mater s have recovered, well one still has signs but it now has two main stems growing fine.Here is a today's shot of the taters the closest plants are not quite as tall as the rest in this planting group but still real close. The ones in the back ground(last 3 rows) were planted several weeks after the first 5 rows.The misses used up all the remaining MM 'hilling' last evening. Here is hoping pine straw will also work. I only expect it; straw; to stop sun damage but will take any extra growth it provides. I intend to finish filling this new 'top hat' with straw; needles.

I got my first batch from a hardware store they were just labeled "red" and "white" the latest batch were red Pontiac. If half produce I will have a ton. I planted 4 cuttings to a square .This is why I have to keep hilling with straw.

Very nice Pepper! - I did 4 to a square just like you. I'm so pleased that potatoes and just about everthing else grows so vigorous in Mel's Mix. Why? It's not only fun but it almost devilishly makes me look like a better gardener than what I really am

I have potatoes arriving today from Fedco Moose Growers (five varieties of fingerlings) I plan to plant them in a tower arrangement in Mel's mix. Too early to plant yet? Also what should be the spacing? I see everything from 2 feet apart to 4 to a square. Also, do I plant a whole seed potato or cut it up?

Glad to hear the spuds seem to be doing just fine. I'm trying red potatoes from the grocery store in a bucket using compost as per Mel's instructions on utube. They developed eyes in the cupboard. So far so good.

I've got to add another 3" of compost when these get about 6" tall.My temps are quite cold nites, less that 32*F, but being in a bucket, I place a laundry basket over the top to help keep it warmer. I don't have deep soil all around them to help modify the soil temps.If you run out of Mel's Mix add compost instead. I've read you can cover them with straw. Haven't tried it myself. The object is to keep the spuds from being touched by sunshine and getting green (green parts are poisonous to eat).Good luck.

welcome to the thread Thomas! my Misses wanted me to order her some fingerlings and purple one and who knows what all .

I don't know how far apart you and llama momma are; hers are already in the ground; but usually when the shippers send them it is time to plant.

If you are doing Square Foot Gardening plant 4 cuttings to the square. I have 12 inch deep beds so just took out half the Mel's Mix then planted. As they grew I added the rest back. I have since added a top hat and will add pine straw(needles) to keep the sun from getting to whatever breaches the ground. Really I hope taters will form in the straw.

thomas I am going to pick on you because your questions are answered in the book! Gotcha! What kind of potatoes do you have? Early taters like yukon gold can go in the ground. If you want to go by the book then mid season and late season taters go in each about about two weeks later than the next. But you know our Ohio weather is soo goofy. You can plant golf ball size seed taters whole. Bigger ones cut up with at least one or two eyes, Mels's book I believe says to let them dry a couple days after cutting, mine went into the ground within 24 hours of cutting. I have early, mid season and late taters and decided the heck with dates they all went in the ground twelve days ago. Today 44 out of 64 have sprouted, all 3 varieties are showing their faces. It's your choice of course and I'm no expert. Right now its 83 and we are getting into the 30's for a couple nights. Just Cuckoo!